Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

New Kings GM Set to Make Pivotal Coaching Decision Soon

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 3:27 PM ET

The Sacramento Kings appear to not be interested in rebuilding, and would rather re-tool their roster around DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis. The team clearly needs a point guard to be added this summer, and interim head coach Doug Christie, who took over for Mike Brown, might also be on the way out.

He led the Kings to a 27-24 record with plenty of long winning and losing streaks. The players seem to enjoy working under him, although new general manager Scott Perry might open things up.

For the most part, Christie was solid in his role, but it was never made permanent. With recent firings, coaches like Mike Budenholzer, Michael Malone, and Taylor Jenkins could all be looking for their next challenge, and coaches like Nick Nurse, Doc Rivers, and Willie Green could be on the hot seat.

It's unclear how many of those candidates are interested in returning to coaching, especially for a middling team without a legitimate superstar like the Kings, but it's worth keeping tabs on.

Sacramento Kings new general manager Scott Perry says he will have a decision made in a week or so on whether to retain interim head coach Doug Christie or open up the role.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 23, 2025

Being the head coach of the Sacramento Kings is not the most stable job, as they have had 14 interim and head coaches since the Bush administration. However, if any of the more established head coaches plan on making a return, it's worth hearing them out.

On the other hand, if Perry doesn't plan on moving on from the veterans on the team, and they vouch for Christie, maybe maintaining some stabity would be the right call, lest Sabonis and the rest demand a trade like Fox did when Brown was fired.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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